It's UV Safety Month - How Can Labels Help?

Use Safety Labels to Raise Awareness About the Dangers of UV Rays

Most people know that staying out in the sun too long, not wearing sunscreen and engaging in other behaviors that can lead to sunburn should be avoided. However, they may not understand the full gravity of the situation - and that's where safety labels come in.

For instance, did you know that more than 1.2 million new skin cancer cases are diagnosed in the United States every year? How about the fact that one bad sunburn during childhood can double a person's risk of developing skin cancer at some point in his or her lifetime? And it may sound strange, but it's actually possible to get a sunburn even when it's cloudy. These are just three of the sobering statistics detailed by the Sun Safety Alliance.

To draw attention to the dangers of UV radiation from the sun's rays, the United States Department of Health and Human Services named July UV Safety Month. As part of UV Safety Month, companies that sell summer necessities like lip balm, sunglasses and sunscreen can incorporate warning labels into their products' packaging to help ensure consumers enjoy the good weather in a responsible way.

With Labels, Knowledge is the Best Weapon

As the adage goes, knowledge is power. With that in mind, including facts on product labels like the three outlined above is a positive step that enterprises can take toward educating people about the dangers associated with UV overexposure.

However, highlighting the problem is only half of the equation. It's unrealistic to expect people to never go out in the sun again once they find out about the associated risks, so the labels also need to present tips, tricks and best practices to encourage safe behavior. For instance, both the SSA and the DHHS' Federal Occupational Health websites recommend using - and frequently reapplying - sunscreen products with an SPF of 15 or higher that offer what's known as "broad spectrum protection" against both UVA and UVB rays.

Fight Off the Elements with Weather-Resistant Labels

The intense heat and light that come with exposure to the sun can have an adverse effect on labels as well as human beings, so using weather-resistant labels is key. As well as ensuring their product labels are able to hold up in hot, bright conditions, companies should also ascertain that they are using water-resistant labels. Think about it: Relaxing in the sunshine often comes with a side of water, whether this takes the form of ocean spray at the beach, splashes from the pool or droplets from sprinklers and hoses in the backyard.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how helpful and informative a label is if it's too compromised by the elements for people to read its contents. At Lightning Labels, we have a range of materials and laminates available to make your summer product labels and stickers durable even at the height of summer.